Written Answers Friday 22 June 2007

Scottish Executive

Care of Elderly People

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider extending access to free personal care to the estimated 1,350 to 1,650 people under the age of 65 suffering from dementia.

Shona Robison: The free personal care policy was introduced to benefit people aged 65 and over, and the government is focusing its attention on addressing implementation issues arising from this policy. There are no current plans to extend this general provision to other care groups. For people under the age of 65, two forms of support are provided. Nursing care payments are available to care home residents who fully fund their care home costs, and people who have dementia or any other degenerative illness who require care, and who live in their own homes, can claim Disability Living Allowance.

Castle Tioram

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to direct Historic Scotland to approve the plans of Anta Estates Ltd relating to the restoration of Castle Tioram and, if so, when.

Linda Fabiani: At present there is no application for the restoration of Castle Tioram with Historic Scotland.

  Any scheduled monument consent application would be assessed by Historic Scotland on behalf of Scottish ministers. As with all such applications, they will assess the case on its own merits taking into account the relevant legislation, policy and best practice and will give a provisional view to the applicants. If the applicants are not content with this view, they can elect to have the case heard by an independent reporter at a public local inquiry. The reporter’s report would then be sent to Scottish ministers who will reach a final view without the further involvement of Historic Scotland.

  The member may wish to know that an application for scheduled monument consent for the restoration of Castle Tioram was refused in 2002 following a public local inquiry.

  Following a detailed discussion of this case by their board, Historic Scotland wrote to the owners on 31 August 2006 setting out their general guidance. They included with their letter copies of the relevant board paper, board minute and the supporting material in order that the owners could understand why they had reached their view. As there has been broader public interest in this case, they also placed copies of this information on their website:

  www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/castletioram.

  They did nonetheless stress to the owners that this was pre-application guidance and they would consider any future application on its own merits.

  The agency is keen to ensure that this nationally important ancient monument does not deteriorate and they have indicated a willingness to consider grant-aid for any urgent repairs and for improving visitor interpretation without prejudice to the owner’s long-term aspirations.

  More generally, Scottish ministers are in the process of consulting with the public on a range of strategic policies for the historic environment. As part of this process, in March 2007 Historic Scotland released their consultation document on Scottish ministers’ policies for Scheduled Monument Consent www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/currentconsultations seeking responses by 22 June 2007.

Dentistry

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will assist private and NHS dentists to implement health and safety measures, including decontamination, in order to meet legislative requirements.

Shona Robison: The health and safety standards of decontamination in dental practice are presently being audited across Scotland using an audit tool developed by Health Protection Scotland (HPS). Within the last month we have instructed boards that funding will be available to GDPs for such audits.

  HPS is the Scottish Governments source of advice and guidance on decontamination standards and is working with the dental profession.

Dentistry

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce a funded comprehensive oral health assessment for all patients.

Shona Robison: Discussions are on-going with dental profession representatives about the possibility of introducing enhanced oral examinations for both children and adults.

Dentistry

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to ensure that patients access orthodontic services at the correct stage in their dentition.

Shona Robison: Access to orthodontics at the correct stage is dependent on the patient’s dentist either carrying out the treatment themselves or referring the patient to a specialist. The Scottish Dental Access Initiative is being revised to provide for financial help for those specialised orthodontic practitioners wishing to establish new NHS orthodontic practice or purchase existing NHS orthodontic practices in order to maintain provision in an area.

Education

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether primary 1, 2 and 3 classes will be permitted to have more than 18 pupils in 2011.

Fiona Hyslop: Our programme for class size reductions was announced during the "Smarter Scotland" debate on 20 June 2007. The Education (Lower Primary Class Sizes) Scotland Regulations 1999 allow a number of exceptions to the class size maximum of 30 that the regulations establish, for example to accommodate successful placing request appeals or for pupils to join a school after a placing round. We envisage that similar flexibilities will apply in 2011. In the meantime we will examine the impact of reducing class sizes in P1 to 25 to assess whether any regulatory changes are required in the future.

Health

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposals to improve public transport provision for residents living in rural communities in south and east Ayrshire in order to access NHS services, as agreed by the Minister for Health and Community Care and the chair of NHS Ayrshire and Arran on 15 December 2006, will proceed as planned, in light of the decision to retain accident and emergency services at Ayr Hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Ayrshire and Arran are continuing to work with Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) and Stagecoach to extend the bus service between Ayr and Crosshouse Hospitals.

  The East Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership have begun to examine transport issues, including access to health care with the intention of putting an integrated, sustainable transport system in place. NHS Ayrshire and Arran continue to pursue other ways to improve transport and access to health care facilities in Ayrshire with SPT and Stagecoach.

Health

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the independent panel established to scrutinise revised proposals for health services in Ayrshire and Arran will be appointed.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Independent Scrutiny Panel will be appointed soon.

Health

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria will be used to appoint members to the independent panel established to scrutinise revised proposals for health services in Ayrshire and Arran.

Nicola Sturgeon: I am currently considering all the options to ensure that the Independent Scrutiny Panel is populated with – and has access to – individuals with the necessary skills, experience and leadership to robustly scrutinise the revised proposals.

Health

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what public consultation will take place about the revised proposals for health services in Ayrshire and Arran.

Nicola Sturgeon: I will look to the Independent Scrutiny Panel to assess the safety, sustainability, evidence-base and value for money of the revised proposals, and to be satisfied that the views of local people have been taken into account.

Health

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing has asked NHS Borders to review the proposals contained in Getting Fit for the Future which include the closure of Coldstream and Jedburgh cottage hospitals.

Nicola Sturgeon: No.

Health

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been, or will be, an increase in Executive support for NHS Borders to deliver the Getting Fit for the Future programme.

Nicola Sturgeon: This government is committed to working with all NHS boards and with communities across Scotland to deliver a health service that is truly fit for purpose. We will continue to provide all NHS boards with the resources they require to deliver the services and performance we require of them.

Health

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing intends to direct NHS Borders to review Getting Fit for the Future in light of the ministerial statement on Monklands and Ayr hospitals ( Official Report c. 390).

Nicola Sturgeon: No. I have already confirmed that my statement on Ayr and Monklands did not signal a general review of service changes that have been made in the NHS.

  I have, however, also made clear that where there are real concerns about planned services, I am determined to work with local people and NHS boards to address these and ensure that local communities have full confidence in the services that are provided locally.

Health

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing intends to reverse the closure of Coldstream and Jedburgh cottage hospitals.

Nicola Sturgeon: It is for each health board to plan and deliver services to meet the needs of its resident population. I know that NHS Borders plans to develop the site in Coldstream to provide a dental care facility and to reinvest savings from the closure of the Jedburgh facility in development of a community heath centre in the town.

  I have no plans to ask them to review these decisions.

Health

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a detailed timetable for the establishment of Lanarkshire’s cancer centre.

Nicola Sturgeon: This is a matter for NHS Lanarkshire.

Health

Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in Scotland have access to the same range of treatment and support as those in the rest of Europe.

Shona Robison: We recognise that not all of those in Scotland with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy receive optimal care. The initiatives set out in the answer to S3W-1906 will help provide additional treatment and support to ensure that in the near future the management of these people will be comparable to that elsewhere in the UK and Europe.

  In particular, the Scottish Muscle Network has as its main objective the development of a specialist multi-professional team which links to local clinicians and services. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Health

Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how health outcomes for people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in Scotland compare with outcomes in the rest of the United Kingdom.

Shona Robison: We are aware that survival rates in the north-east of England are better than those in Scotland. The trend over the last few years in Scotland has been for survival rates to increase.

Inter-Governmental Links

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on what basis the announcement of a memorandum of understanding between the UK and Libyan governments was deemed an emergency.

Bruce Crawford: The First Minister made a request to the Presiding Officer to make an emergency statement on Thursday, 7 June 2007. The decision that a ministerial statement was of a sufficiently urgent nature for the statement to be made and debated that day was made at the discretion of the Presiding Officer in accordance with Rule 13.2 of the Parliament’s Standing Orders.

Inter-Governmental Links

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it was decided that the announcement of a memorandum of understanding between the UK and Libyan governments was an emergency and required an emergency statement to be requested in the Parliament.

Bruce Crawford: The First Minister decided to make a formal approach to the Presiding Officer, in accordance with Rule 13.2 of the Parliament’s Standing Orders, on the morning of Thursday 7 June.

Inter-Governmental Links

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it first made a request to the Presiding Officer for the First Minister to make an emergency statement on the memorandum of understanding between the UK and Libyan governments.

Bruce Crawford: The formal request, in accordance with Rule 13.2 of the Parliament’s Standing Orders, was made at 13:30 on Thursday 7 June.

Land Reform

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to ensure the correct application of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.

Michael Russell: The Government is committed to delivering the right of responsible access to most land and inland water throughout Scotland, embodied in Part 1 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003. Together with Scottish Natural Heritage we will continue to monitor the practical implementation of the statutory provisions of the act. If evidence points to the need for amendment to the act, we will bring forward proposals for consideration .

Land Reform

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it intends to issue to Scottish sheriffs regarding the interpretation of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

Michael Russell: The Government does not intend to issue guidance to sheriffs on this matter. Ministers respect the role of the courts in interpreting and applying legislation, but would draw the members attention to the answer to question S3W-909 on 22 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Land Reform

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any concerns regarding the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 and its compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights.

Michael Russell: No. It is my understanding that careful consideration was given that the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 was compliant with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) before, and after its passage through the Parliament. We have no reason to consider that its provisions are not compatible with the ECHR but would refer the member to the answer to question S3W-909 on 22 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Maternity Services

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards offer pregnant women the recommended number of scans as part of their antenatal screening and care.

Shona Robison: The NHS Quality Improvement Scotland publication National Overview – January 2007 Maternity Services  reported that following their review of their Clinical Standards for Maternity Services (carried out between November 2005 and June 2006), 10 out of the then 15 NHS health boards routinely carried out foetal anomaly scans at 18 to 22 weeks. Those health boards were: NHS Argyll and Clyde, NHS Ayrshire and Arran, NHS Dumfries and Galloway, NHS Fife, NHS Forth Valley, NHS Grampian, NHS Orkney, NHS Shetland, NHS Tayside and NHS Western Isles.

  A Framework for Maternity Services in Scotland published in February 2001 sets out clearly and explicitly the maternity service which should be offered across Scotland. This includes details of the number and timing of ultrasound scans which should be offered during pregnancy. The government is working closely with NHSScotland to ensure that developments in screening during pregnancy are introduced efficiently and effectively.

Museums

Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will honour its commitment to support the development of a Holocaust museum in Scotland.

Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to deliver its commitment to develop a Holocaust museum.

Stewart Maxwell: I can confirm that this Government will honour the commitment of the previous administration to support the development of a Holocaust museum in Scotland. Funding has recently been available to East Renfrewshire Council to assist with the development of an outline design for the museum; to identify the key market sectors associated with the project and an estimate of likely capital costs.

NHS 24

Ian McKee (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many nursing hours were worked in NHS 24 between 8.00 am and 6.00 pm on weekdays in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Shona Robison: During the hours 8am to 6pm on weekdays, the total number of nursing hours worked was 17,554 hours compared to total nursing hours for the whole year of 266,216 hours (or 6.6% of the total). There are other frontline staff who also work within these hours on weekdays, such as team leaders, call handlers and health information advisors. The number of hours worked between 8am and 6pm on weekdays by all frontline staff in 2006-07 was 43,883 hours compared with the total number of hours worked of 629,889 (or 7% of the total).

NHS 24

Ian McKee (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total staff costs were of operating NHS 24 between 8am and 6pm on weekdays in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Shona Robison: During the hours 8am to 6pm on weekdays, there are a number of frontline staff working within NHS 24 such as nurse advisors, call handlers, team leaders and health information advisors.

  The total frontline staff costs for these hours for the financial year 2006-07 broken down into skill set are set out in the following table: Total Frontline Staff Costs between 8am and 6pm in 2006-07

  

 Team Leaders
£246,972


 Nurse Advisors
£928,369


 Call Handlers
£489,175


 Health Information Advisors
£144,554



  Note: *Information provided by NHS 24.

  This totals around £1.8 million which is approximately 3.4% of the NHS 24 budget.

NHS 24

Ian McKee (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many individual caller contacts were received by NHS 24 between 8.00 am and 6.00 pm on weekdays in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Shona Robison: In addition to providing its core service and other support services during the in-hours period of 8am to 6pm, NHS 24 provides cover when GP surgeries are closed during this time to enable doctors to have protected learning time. In addition to handling calls, the in-hours period is used for administration and staff training and development. The nature of calls received during the 8am to 6pm period is different from those out-of-hours with a higher proportion not seeking referral to a health professional. From 1 June 2006 to 31 May 2007, NHS 24 dealt with a total of 1.456 million individual caller contacts, with 136,000 (9.3%) of those being dealt with in the 8am to 6pm period.

NHS Hospitals

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will encourage NHS Ayrshire and Arran to expedite the business plan for a new hospital on Arran and its subsequent construction.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Ayrshire and Arran have no plans to build a new hospital on Arran.

NHS Hospitals

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS Ayrshire and Arran’s revised proposals for accident and emergency services will be made available to the Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee.

Nicola Sturgeon: The revised proposals will be considered and agreed by NHS Ayrshire and Arran at a meeting of their board. The proposals will then be submitted for independent scrutiny.

  Health board meetings are held in public and the agreed, revised proposals will be available from NHS Ayrshire and Arran following the relevant board meeting.

NHS Hospitals

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS Lanarkshire’s revised proposals for accident and emergency services will be made available to the Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee.

Nicola Sturgeon: The revised proposals will be considered and agreed by NHS Lanarkshire at a meeting of their board. The proposals will then be submitted for independent scrutiny.

  Health board meetings are held in public and the agreed, revised proposals will be available from NHS Lanarkshire following the relevant board meeting.

NHS Hospitals

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee will be consulted before any decisions are taken by the independent scrutiny panel on NHS accident and emergency provision.

Nicola Sturgeon: In terms of the specific independent scrutiny arrangements for the revised service proposals in Ayrshire and Lanarkshire, there are no plans to consult the Health and Sport Committee.

  I will look to the Independent Scrutiny Panel to assess the safety, sustainability, evidence-base and value for money of the revised proposals from NHS Ayrshire and Arran and NHS Lanarkshire, and to be satisfied that local views have been taken into account. I have agreed with NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Ayrshire and Arran that their revised proposals – having been scrutinised and evaluated by the independent panel – should be with me for a final decision by the turn of the year. In setting this demanding timescale I recognised the importance of not setting back or slowing down the boards’ service plans – which include much-needed primary care and community-based developments - any more than is absolutely necessary to fulfil the commitment on accident and emergency services.

  That said, I have announced that the Scottish Government will soon consult on arrangements to embed independent scrutiny in the significant service change process and we would welcome the committee’s views on this in due course.

NHS Hospitals

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the membership of the independent scrutiny panel on NHS accident and emergency provision will be announced.

Nicola Sturgeon: The membership of the Independent Scrutiny Panel will be announced soon.

NHS Hospitals

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the event of the independent scrutiny panel rejecting the revised proposals on NHS accident and emergency provision, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing will abide by the decision of the panel.

Nicola Sturgeon: As with any proposals for significant service change, I will carefully consider all the available information before coming to a final decision.

NHS Staff

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many consultant vacancies there are in Lanarkshire, broken down by (a) specialty and (b) length of vacancy.

Nicola Sturgeon: Information on staff employed in NHS Scotland is published on the Scottish Health Statistics website under Workforce Statistics, at www.isdscotland.org/workforce . Section B gives details of Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS) medical and dental staff. In particular, tables B13 (whole-time equivalent) and B14 (head count) show consultant vacancy numbers - establishment, staff in post, total and over six months vacancies and vacancy rates broken down by specialty and NHS board from 2002 to 2006. Vacancy figures and vacancy rates for under six months are not provided on the Scottish Health Statistics website.

NHS Waiting Times

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients suffering from cancer in the NHS Lanarkshire area have (a) received treatment within and (b) waited longer than the maximum waiting time following diagnosis in the last five years.

Nicola Sturgeon: There is no specific waiting times target which sets a maximum wait between diagnosis and treatment for all patients with cancer. There is a national target from urgent referral to first treatment for cancer of 62 days. Performance information against that target, broken down by NHS board and cancer type is available from the Scottish Executive website at:

  www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/health/cancer/waiting-times. There is also a national target for patients diagnosed with breast cancer that those "who have breast cancer and are referred for urgent treatment will begin that treatment within one month of diagnosis, where clinically appropriate". The information requested is as under for this group of patients. It should be noted that cancer waiting times data are subject to continuous development and quality improvement. Data capture systems were not fully established and validated prior to 2003, therefore any data collected prior to January of that year on the waiting times of breast patients between diagnosis and first treatment are not presented because they were of variable quality and completeness and used a different definition of one month.

  Table 1: Patients Diagnosed with Breast Cancer in Lanarkshire

  

 Year
No. Treated within 31 Days of Diagnosis
No. not Treated within 31 Days of Diagnosis


 20031 
256
26


 20041,2 
296
21


 20052 
269
21


 20062,3 
258
20



  Source: Information Services Division, NHS National Services Scotland. Notes: 1. For period January 2003 to March 2004, no patients were excluded from the calculations. 2. For period April 2004 to June 2006, data exclude patients who died prior to receiving treatment, who refused treatment, with a patient induced non-clinical delay and who had co-morbidities (that prevented or delayed treatment). 3. For period July 2006 to December 2006, data exclude patients who died prior to receiving treatment, who refused treatment, with a patient induced non-clinical delay, who had co-morbidities, for clinical reasons and initially referred to an other non-cancer specialty.

People with Disabilities

Iain Smith (North East Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the population has been issued with a blue badge parking permit.

Stewart Stevenson: Approximately 4.5% of the Scottish population holds a Blue Badge parking permit.

Regulation of Care

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current procedures are for vetting the suitability of people who apply to work as carers (a) in care homes and (b) as home care providers.

Shona Robison: Care service providers, including those who provide care home and care at home services, are regulated by the Care Commission under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 and its associated regulations. Under the regulations a provider shall not employ any person in the provision of the service unless that person is fit to be so employed.

  The Commission is also required to take account of the National Care Standards in all its regulatory decisions. In respect of staff, the Standards require providers to have safe staff recruitment and selection procedures in place covering all legal requirements. This includes Disclosure Scotland checks, taking up references and cross-reference to the registers of the Scottish Social Services Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council or other professional organisations, where appropriate. The Care Commission has a wide range of enforcement powers at its disposal should a provider fail to meet these requirements or the expectations set out in the National Care Standards.

Regulation of Care

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms exist to ensure that home care services, such as free personal care, are delivered professionally, respectfully and effectively.

Shona Robison: Support services, which may include care at home or free personal care services, are regulated by the Care Commission under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act, its associated regulations, and taking account of the National Care Standards. In addition, the Social Work Inspection Agency has a programme of inspecting all social work services delivered by local authorities across Scotland by early 2009. These inspections will include consideration of the quality and quantity of care at home services.

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-156 by Michael Russell on 7 June 2007 ( Official Report c. 543), what the timescale is for this year’s consultation on changes to permitted development rights for microgeneration proposals for existing buildings and whether the Executive will publish draft proposals in order to ensure the widest possible parliamentary discussion and input.

Stewart Stevenson: We intend to consult for a period of three months in the Autumn regarding permitted development rights, including draft proposals, for micro-renewable equipment.

Road Accidents

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-259 by Stewart Stevenson on 11 June 2007, how these statistics compare with accident rates on other major trunk roads in Scotland and what the respective statistics were for serious injuries and fatalities on such roads in the last five years.

Stewart Stevenson: The following table shows the comparative respective statistics for accident rates together with numbers of serious and fatal injury accidents for each trunk road in Scotland.

  Scottish Trunk Road, Accidents Rates (2004-06) and Casualty and Accident Frequency (2002-06)

  

 Trunk Road
Route Accident Rate
(2004-06, 100mvk) 
Dual Carriageway Accident Rate 
(2004-06, 100mvk)
Single Carriageway Accident Rate 
(2004-06, 100mvk)
Accident Frequency
5 Year Total (2002-06) 
Casualty Frequency
5 Year Total (2002-06) 


Fatal
Serious
Fatal
Serious


 A1
9.67
7.91
15.93
9
35
11
49


 A6091
32.54
-
32.54
0
8
0
11


 A68
19.27
-
19.27
8
47
9
65


 A7
22.58
-
22.58
3
24
3
32


 A701
28.73
-
28.73
5
12
6
20


 A702
29.83
20.80
29.83
8
40
8
66


 A720
11.94
11.94
-
2
16
2
19


 A725
21.27
21.27
-
4
28
4
29


 A726
28.86
28.86
-
0
8
0
8


 A737
22.46
23.56
21.84
4
45
4
56


 A738
43.86
-
43.86
0
3
0
3


 A75
15.55
8.75
16.01
18
79
25
115


 A751
22.80
-
22.80
0
1
0
1


 A76
20.50
-
20.50
12
53
13
65


 A77
14.12
7.15
21.23
15
78
20
117


 A78
17.52
8.06
29.85
7
56
7
73


 A8
14.35
14.35
-
8
38
9
40


 A80
5.61
5.61
-
2
13
2
13


 A82
25.54
22.76
26.42
38
177
42
259


 A828
28.52
-
28.52
2
15
2
19


 A83
32.34
-
32.34
7
51
7
71


 A830
30.78
-
30.78
1
12
1
16


 A835
20.56
-
20.56
6
28
6
40


 A84
28.60
-
28.60
7
47
7
59


 A85
37.58
-
37.58
19
103
21
130


 A86
67.77
-
67.77
2
18
2
23


 A87
23.29
-
23.29
4
33
4
44


 A876
12.61
-
12.61
2
3
2
3


 A887
27.64
-
27.64
1
1
1
1


 A889
18.76
-
18.76
0
1
0
1


 A893
0.00
-
0.00
0
0
0
0


 A898
19.56
19.56
-
0
2
0
2


 A9
11.08
8.32
13.85
51
179
61
278


 A90
12.16
9.75
26.23
48
208
55
259


 A92
19.27
11.38
37.81
13
80
16
101


 A95
24.38
-
24.38
5
25
5
38


 A96
14.87
9.30
16.70
32
82
36
122


 A972
28.03
28.03
-
0
1
0
1


 A977
6.64
-
6.64
1
4
2
5


 A985
18.10
-
18.10
3
22
4
33


 A99
54.62
-
54.62
3
14
3
20


 M73
8.89
8.89
-
3
6
4
8


 M74
6.48
6.48
-
25
72
28
99


 M77
6.95
6.95
-
1
8
1
8


 M8
12.71
12.71
-
12
115
12
129


 M80
6.50
6.50
-
8
16
9
21


 A823 (M)
20.04
20.04
-
1
5
2
9


 M876
4.79
4.79
-
1
14
1
14


 M898
21.29
21.29
-
0
1
0
1


 M9
5.78
5.78
-
1
31
1
37


 M90
5.72
5.72
-
5
40
7
45



  The Scottish Trunk Road National Average Accident Rate for dual carriageways is 9.40 per 100 million vehicle kilometres, and 20.60 per 100 million vehicle kilometres for single carriageways. The figures quoted may differ slightly from those published elsewhere because they were extracted on a different date and the database may have changed between the two dates, e.g. due to late returns or corrections to earlier returns. Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Roads

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) estimated cost and (b) proposed timescale for completion is for the Inverness southern distributor road and whether the Executive will fully fund the road.

Stewart Stevenson: The current estimates in the Highland Council’s Capital Investment Programme show a gross project cost of £76.868 million. The Highland Council is working with HITRANS to secure funding for the Inverness Trunk Link Road, with a target completion of the eastern section, linking the A9 and A96, by 2011 and a target completion of the whole project by 2015. The Convener of The Highland Council, Mr Sandy Park, has written to me this week regarding the Inverness Trunk Link Road and I shall give careful consideration to his request for financial support for the project.

Roads

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has instructed a review of the Aberdeen Western peripheral route.

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the comments by the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change on 7 June 2007 in his response to Patrick Harvie MSP (Official Report c. 458) referred specifically to the M74 and the Aberdeen western peripheral route.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-795 on 19 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Sport

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-373 by Stewart Maxwell on 6 June 2007, whether its commitment to implement in full the Reaching Higher national sport strategy includes endorsement of the strategy’s support for a continuing role for sportscotland.

Stewart Maxwell: I can confirm that there will be no decisions on the future of sportscotland without a full appreciation of the facts and that the future of sportscotland will be considered within the context of the wider review of public bodies announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 24 May 2007. Until these conclusions are reached, sportscotland will continue to play a significant role in the implementation of Reaching Higher .

Teachers

Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to help probationary teachers secure their first teaching posts.

Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-119 on 5 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search . On 20 June 2007 I announced that the Scottish Executive would provide funding to local authorities to secure an additional 300 new jobs this August for probationers to secure their first teaching posts.

Transport

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the Transport Research Laboratory’s survey of lorry drivers at service stations with regard to the connection between weight and sleep disorders including sleep apnoea.

Stewart Stevenson: Yes, we are aware of the report and have noted its content.